INNER RING ROAD SCAM: The Supreme Court upheld the Andhra Pradesh HC order granting anticipatory bail to N. Chandrababu Naidu
Last Updated on January 29, 2024 by News Desk
The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the decision of the Andhra Pradesh High Court granting anticipatory bail to the former chief minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu.
A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta rejected the plea filed by the Andhra Pradesh government challenging the anticipatory bail granted to Naidu in connection to the Inner Ring Road scam.
It was noted that the co-accused in the matter had been granted pre-arrest bail earlier, as the appeal challenging the bail of the co-accused was declined. Therefore, the court remarked that, in view of the earlier order passed by the apex court, it is not inclined to entertain the state government’s appeal.
It further added that if Naidu does not cooperate in the investigation, then the state is free to move to court for the cancellation of the bail granted.
“We clarify that the observations made in the impugned order would not affect the investigation, and the Investigating Agency would be free to investigate, uninfluenced by the observations made in the order of the High Court. We further clarify that in the event the respondents do not cooperate with the Investigating Agency, the petitioner would be at liberty to move for cancellation of bail before the courts below,” the court observed.
Telegu Desam Party (TDP) President Naidu was accused of corrupt and illegal practices carried out during the development of the master plan for the state’s capital city of Amravati, including the alignment of the inner ring road.
On January 10 of this year, Naidu was granted anticipatory bail by the Andhra Pradesh High Court.
The state moved to the Supreme Court, challenging the high court’s order. Senior Advocate Ranjit Kumar and advocate Mahfooz Ahsan Nazki, appearing for the government, contended that the rationale regarding the delay in the arrest as a ground for granting anticipatory bail is completely misconceived.
However, the apex court dismissed the appeal and upheld the high court’s order.
Written by Shagun Behal
